Music as an important feature of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Show where you would include music in your production and what different effects you would try to achieve. The earthy, natural feeling of A Midsummer Night's Dream gives many inspirations and possibilities for music to be included in the play. It also, contrastingly, gives the opportunity for music not to be used (for example during the songs specifically written in the text and the overall lyricism of the play). Before the performance, during the interval and afterwards I want to show and enhance the nature links within the play. I thought of a time when man and nature were very close, and remembered some tribal music I had. It uses a lot of drums and panpipes, very primitive instruments that show the early nature of the music and the time. It also uses voice, but no words, relying on the noises made by the human voice rather than the pronunciation. An early interpretation of the word â€Å"faerie† meant a spiritual being who was very much linked with nature. These beings had good and bad sides, so are not the archetypal â€Å"fairies† often portrayed today. The spiritual, tribal music would enhance the idea that the faeries are not that dissimilar to humans, while remaining completely different. I would like to give the audience a hint of what is to come just before it happens. For example, just before a fairy is about to come onstage, I would have a short piccolo burst to signify it. This could be continued for each of the three â€Å"classes† – mortals and Mechanicals too. The higher-class mortals could be symbolised by a short burst on the trumpet. This could be increased to a fanfare for Theseus when he enters, and vary between a short note for the lovers on their own to a full fanfare for the court. Similarly, since the Mechanicals are also mortals, a brass instrument could be their entrance too. This would link them to the members of the court, but by using a different instrument such as a trombone, it would set them apart as well. A trombone would be good because it is associated with slapstick comedy, which is what the Mechanicals are, essentially. These notes before an actor's entrance would have to be timed very well so that they came before an entrance, but not too far before so as to detract from the last scene. When Titania and Oberon meet in Act II, Scene I, Titania has a very long speech on how the seasons are being disrupted by their lovers' feud. This speech would be difficult to say while keeping the attention of the audience, and previously I have ideas to cut it. However, looking at the music in this production I have decided on a great piece that would really work. It is called Pachelbel's Frolics. It is derived from Pachelbel's Canon but slowly changes during the piece, almost too slowly to notice. By the end of the music, it has progressed into a full-blown Irish Gig. I think this is wonderfully significant to the piece as it so accurately portrays the changes of which Titania speaks. The fact that it happens so slowly will confuse the audience I think, because they will not notice the change in tune until it has changed thoroughly. Act II, Scene II has the fairies singing Titania to sleep. It would be tempting to use music here to support the fairies. After thinking this through, I decided that no music would be better, as that way the lyricism in the text can come through in their voices alone. Harmonies and vocal variations within the song would be nice here, showing how the differences in the worlds come together to make something that is good. The rhythm and harmonies alone should be enough to carry the piece through. We have tried it in production with it as a choral piece, each saying different lines, and it didn't work very well. Treating the song as a song would work better, but this would require getting a musical assistant to produce a tune for the song, and to work on the harmonies. It would also require actors who could sing and manage harmonising. I think that if the piece was done well, it would work much better than if music were put to it. Act III, Scene I includes Bottom's rowdy song, originally sung to cheer himself up and make him less scared. As it continues, I think he should get rowdier and bawdier; more confident. I don't think I would use music here either. At the beginning he should definitely be alone, and any musical accompaniment would detract from his solitude onstage. For the first half of the song, before Titania wakes up, he should sing quietly, building up to full volume at the line â€Å"The wren with little quill. † Then, after Titania's line he can start at full volume, loudly, brash, almost in a drunken way. His voice should not be particularly tuneful, but very loud (as if to make up for it! . This would show how unrefined he is, and how totally unsuited to Titania. It would also emphasise the differences in appearance and behaviour, especially if Titania is played very daintily and quiet in the scene. The final place where music could be used is in Act V, during and just after the Bergomask dance. Again, I would like to use the music here to emphasise the class differences between the three group s. When the Mechanicals dance, the music they dance to should reflect their status. This is why I chose â€Å"Irish Party in Third Class. It is an Irish tune, much more heavy and beating than the one I have used previously. It is from the party below decks in Titanic, and has such a great atmosphere to it that it would work with the Mechanicals' base instincts. This would also show the class boundaries, as it is fairly apparent that this music is not â€Å"refined† for the other members of the household. The heavy beat of the drum and the deeper notes of bagpipes compared to the fiddle make the piece quite natural and tribal again, while keeping its Irish connotations. After the performance of the Mechanicals' play, Oberon and Titania appear to bless the house. They also dance, and as Shakespeare's stage directions are very remote, the dance could be of any kind. I thought that to emphasise the link with nature, it would be good to use the music from the interval as a dance for them. It has very heavy drumbeats and so carries a good rhythm for dancing. The tribal links would be carried through the whole play, creating continuity through the performance. The whole essence of the fairies in my production is their darker, less â€Å"perfect† side. This dance at the end could be very ritualistic, almost pagan. Through the dance we could see their personalities come through as themselves.

Resilience: Problem Solving and Child

Explain why resilience is so important CYP 3. 3 6. 2 SCMP2 1. 3 CYP 3. 3 6. 1 CYP 3. 3 6. 4 CYP 3. 3 6. 3 What is resilience? Resilience is the ability to adapt to adversity and cope with living in spite of stresses. Building resilience is building the ability to bounce back and adapt to all kinds of adversity, including trauma, tragedy, threats, setbacks and stress.Children at some time in their lives will experience stress and trauma, but by building resilience, children are better able to manage stress and feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. Resilience is important because it is the human capacity to face, overcome and be strengthened or even transformed by the adversities of life. And adversity affects us all at some time in our lives. Resilient children: find ways to solve their problems xercise control over negative thoughts and take responsibility for choosing how to act and feel are more likely to have people to talk to and confide in when something worries them have inner s trength, social and inter-personal skills, and skills in communicating effectively require parents and carers to model resilient behaviours and help promote resilience through words, actions and the environment, in which they are being raised like to try new things, enjoy a challenge need supervision, support and boundaries feel they can succeed ersist with a task and persevere have a sense of optimism believe their contribution can make a difference to an outcome like helping people possess a sense of fun. Ways we can raise a childs' confidence, resilience and well-being Resilience draws on aspects of a child's characteristics including temperament and the environment in which they are raised and supported. It also includes people and opportunities that help build resilience, for  example independence, autonomy and problem solving. Strategies for building resilience can be learned over time.Learning to think positively and in perspective means a child can not only cope with probl ems and setbacks. It also means children have opportunities to learn how to build strengths that protect and promote well-being. To overcome adversity and build resilience, children ideally require: unconditional love and acceptance some autonomy over their lives trusting relationships with significant adults feelings of independence secure relationships and strong role models to help foster friendships and commitment a safe and stable environment self-confidence and faith in themselves and their world.All these things help to build resilience. Helping to promote resilience A child's ability to build resilience is dependent on their age and stage of development. Babies and toddlers have limited physical and emotional competence compared with eight-year old. However, helping a child to feel secure and confident can begin at birth. For babies and toddlers: Provide safety, security, stability and nurture–physically, verbally and emotionally. Rock, stroke, soothe and cuddle often . Use words of comfort to calm. Allow babies freedom to explore in safety. Encourage toddlers to calm themselves.Model optimistic and resilient behaviour. Talk with toddlers and preschoolers about what adversity and setbacks mean. Reinforce a child's faith in their own problem solving skills. Set limits for behaviour and label the behaviour, not the child. Offer explanations regarding rules and discipline. Praise the accomplishment of tasks and milestones. Encourage independence. Help your child to recognise feelings and develop language to express emotions. Build on the security of trusted relationships. Source appropriate picture books from your local library. Know and work with your child's temperament.Help your child stick to a daily routine. For preschoolers and older children: Give unconditional support, nurturing and encouragement. Encourage and help your child practise calming strategies. Model self-esteem, confidence and optimism. Talk about appropriate behaviours. Encourag e independent thought and action. Build on developing an emotional vocabulary and how to label feelings. Help your child to understand their own temperament and why they might react in a certain way to a particular situation. Practise effective ways to resolve conflict at school or in the playground.Talk about ways that a child can seek help and assistance if needed. Spend time every day talking, discussing and sharing what's happening in your child's life. Model and teach attitudes of empathy and ways of caring. Explain that all behaviour has consequences. Provide comfort in stressful situations. Praise completed tasks, work well done, perseverance, desired behaviours. Discuss accepting responsibility for behaviour and why discipline is imposed to limit some behaviours. Clarify expectations, rules and regulations (especially for school).Accept that failure happens and talk about ways your child can overcome feelings of failure and try again. Discuss and support emerging independenc e and autonomy as your child develops, and how this balances out with age-appropriate limitations. Be flexible with routines so that your child has time and opportunity to be creative. Teach your child how to focus on something else if they are worried or upset. Discuss what it means to be a friend and help your child to make friends. Explain the importance of eating properly, resting, exercising and self care.Help your child to see that their individual accomplishments contribute to the well-being of the family as a whole. Why is important to teach them skills to keep them safe? Resilience is coping with change, and for many young children change can be stressful and scary. Helping a child to keep things in perspective and understand why change is an inevitable part of life, will help them to navigate and bounce back from tough times and move forward to better times. Wherever possible, ensure that children have unconditional support and stability from their family or caring network .

Similarities and Difference Between Hinduism and Buddhism.

Similarities and difference between Hinduism and Buddhism. Buddhism believes in the process of reincarnation based on deeds of the present life. Hinduism also believes that everyone is a part of an impersonal world and therefore, one's soul reincarnates into another body of any being, based on the deeds of the present life. One has to work for salvation oneself and therefore, cannot blame others for the same. The salvation depends on the good deeds of a person. In Hinduism also, one attains salvation as per one's own fate and deeds. Both of them believe that there are many paths to attain enlightenment such as overcoming through your feelings and desires and controlling over the six conscious senses. Both the schools of thought believe that excessive attachment to things and people in the physical world causes pain and suffering. Therefore, we must get ourselves free from the illusions of ‘Maya' or worldly desires. Both of them gives an emphasis on the practice of meditation and other forms of yoga, which not only helps one to concentrate on the truth of life, but also facilitates the path of enlightenment and liberation. The Hindus believe in 300,000 Gods. Buddhism do follow some rituals but only in the form of meditation, and bowing and different forms of worship while offering prayer in the Buddhist temples. Buddhist practices also do not require any priests. The rituals, being followed by the Hindus are more complex and vary from birth to death of a person. Besides, priests do play important role in all the rituals. The Buddhists do not believe in the stages of life. People can join any of the stages any time depending upon their spiritual preparedness. The Hindus believe in the four stages of life What impact has a religious or spiritual tradition had on your life. I would have to say my parents. They are both Christians and raised me and my brother and sister as Christians. I was baptized and have attended church throughout the years. I have also gone to youth group and to youth camp. We do family devotions. My dad tries to get us all together at night. It is hard we all play sports or do other activities and sometimes we are tired. I like what the devotions say it is just I don’t always want to sit there and do it. I believe in God, it is just sometimes I have a hard time doing what I know I should do. Read the subsection on Mesopotamia and write two or three sentences to summarize it. All the Mesopotamian civilizations to follow – Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian – adopted Sumerian culture and made it their own. The Sumerians were the originators whom everyone copied. In addition to creating the first forms of writing, the Sumerians invented the plow, the wheel, and used bronze tools. Their impact was so great that we feel it today when we hear about the Great Flood. The Amorites were better known as Babylonians – named after the city they founded in central Mesopotamia called Babylon. Babylon became the most well-known city in all of Mesopotamia. The most famous king of the Babylonians was one of its earliest kings Hammurabi. Define or describe each of the following key terms from this section. Civilization- A complex culture in which large numbers of people share basic elements, such as a social structure, religion, and art. Patriarchal- Society in Mesopotamia was dominated by men. Circle the letter of the word that has the closet meaning to the boldface academic vocabulary words from this lesson. 1. A system of codes helped maintain order in early civilizations. C. regulations 2. Early civilizations focused on what the leaders believed were important goals for maintain their social structure. A. concentrated Egypt and Divine Kingship Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower Nile River. Egyptian civilization began around 3150 BC. Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh. The history of ancient Egypt occurred in a series of stable Kingdoms, separated by periods of relative instability known as Intermediate Periods: the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. Egypt reached a high of its power during the New Kingdom. Egypt was conquered by a succession of foreign powers in this late period. Egyptian monarchs had many titles, but the most common was pharaoh, which means â€Å"great house† or â€Å"palace. † 1. How did King Solomon Help Jerusalem become the capital of Israel? Under King Solomon the Israelites established control over all Palestine. Jerusalem became the capital of a united kingdom known as Israel. He expanded the government and encouraged trade. He is known for building the temple in Jerusalem. 2. How did Judaism give Jews strength? Judaism became a stateless religion. They believed God was not fixed to one place; he was lord of the whole world. It helped them maintain an identity as a people even though they did not have a state. 3. What Jewish beliefs are parts of Western tradition? Human beings are separate from nature and must struggle against it; human beings have a particular relationship to a supreme being, who watches over them. 4. How was Judaism unique among ancient religions of western Asia and Egypt? Asia and Egypt believed in many Gods. Judaism was monotheistic, being one God. It gave all people not just a ruler or priest, access to God. Judaism – People of Judah were Jews and their religion was called Judaism. Monotheistic – Belief in one God. Covenant – A contract with God’s people when lead out of bondage. Prophets – Religious teachers used by God to speak to his people. Ancient India Cast System and Hinduism/Buddhism will be covered. Cast System – Social and religious classification based on discrimination Hinduism – Religion whose followers believe in karma and reincarnation. Buddhism – Religion with a goal of achieving wisdom. Networks – Extended family used in caste system. Ancient China 1. In what way was the â€Å"mandate from Heaven† a powerful ruling force? This political belief said that a ruler was the ruler because Heaven had given the mandate. 2. How did the beliefs of Confucius indirectly support the â€Å"Mandate from Heaven†? He believed people were naturally good and every person could acquire knowledge and virtue if you had a virtuous leader. He believed in obedience to superiors. Confucianism – It was the same thing. He believed people were naturally good and every person could acquire knowledge and virtue if you had a virtuous leader. He believed in obedience to superiors. Core – In Chinese society the family is the core. The fathers place was very high. How did the law codes and religious beliefs develop in ancient civilizations? About 5,000 years ago, the first civilizations began to develop along river valleys. The rich, fertile farmlands of river valleys helped these civilizations to thrive. These early civilizations relied on a traditional economy based on farming. Many developed into cities with systems of government, social structures, and belief systems, laying the foundations for later civilizations. Through warfare and trade, these and other cultural achievements spread to new lands. The Hebrews developed Judaism, a monotheistic religion based on the worship of one God, whose laws are set out in the Torah and the Ten Commandments. In Egypt, the benefits of the Nile River supported the development of early civilization. The history of ancient Egypt is divided into three periods: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom. Religious beliefs about gods, values, and life after death affected ancient Egyptian life. India is a land of mountains, fertile plains, and arid regions. In the Indus River valley this civilization was taken over by the Aryans, who invaded India and destroyed many Indus Valley cities. Geography isolated early Chinese civilization, yet the people developed a writing system, literature, silk making, and other arts. They honored nature and ancestor spirits. How did the caste system influence the lives of people in ancient India? The Aryans divided their society into separate castes. Castes were unchanging groups. A person born into one caste never changed castes or mixed with members of other castes. Caste members lived, ate, married, and worked with their own group. At the top of the caste system were the priests, teachers, and, then warrior caste, farmers and merchants, and craft workers and laborers. The untouchables were the outcastes, or people beyond the caste system. Their jobs or habits involved â€Å"polluting activities† including any job that involved ending a life, such as fishing killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with their hides. Untouchables were often forbidden to enter temples, schools and wells where higher castes drew water. In some parts of southern India, even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting The Civilization of the Greeks Greek Ideas about Government The Greeks had a lot of different kinds of governments, because there were many different city-states in ancient Greece, and they each had their own government. In addition, people's ideas about what made a good government changed over time. Aristotle divided Greek governments into monarchies, oligarchies, tyrannies and democracies. For the most part, Greece began by having monarchies, then oligarchies, then tyrannies and then democracies, but at each period there were plenty of city-states using a different system, and there were many which never did become democracies or tyrannies at all. All Greek city-states seem to have been monarchies, ruled by kings. Homer's Iliad, and Greek mythology in general, shows us a whole series of kings like Agamemnon and Theseus, and some of their palaces have survived for archaeologists to dig up. Writing About History Persuasive Writing. How was the polis the center of Greek Life? â€Å"Polis† is the Greek word for a city-state. Some city-states were democracies; others were ruled by kings, who in Greek were called tyrants, a tyrant was just a king, not necessarily an evil or cruel. How important was the polis to Greek life? Let's put it this way there was no Greek life outside a polis. The entire Greek history is a history of rivalries between city-states. What was the citizen of Ancient Greece Like? Only Males who had: were 18, owned land, were free and both parents of the male had to be the children of citizens. Females, no matter how high born, could not become citizens. Slaves and Foreigners could not become citizens. Also, man slaves could not be citizens either. Citizens were expected to attend regular meetings, as well as serve in the army or navy. Who ran the Spartan government? They had two kings, hereditary monarchs; the kings were automatic members of the Gerousia, the council of 28 elders picked for life plus the two kings. Five ephors, chosen annually by popular election, had the main power. The final part was the assembly, made up of all Spartan citizens over 18. Why is Athenian democracy considered a model for American democracy? The founders of democracy in Athens exercised decisions through a direct democracy in which all male citizens were allowed to have direct influence on the decisions. Although in the United States today we accept democracy as a form of life it had its early beginnings in the city-states of Ancient Greece. The form of government known as democracy had its early roots in Ancient Greece but its influence has a direct connection with the type of government we have today in the United States. Today in the United States of America we have a representative democracy in which we appoint â€Å"representatives† through election. Define each of the following key terms. Polis – In ancient Greece, an independent city and its surrounding region under a unified government. Usually the town was walled and contained a citadel on raised ground acropolis and a marketplace agora. Tyrant – A tyrant was one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Democracy – Is a government by the people or rule of many. Oligarchy – Is ruled by the few. Direct Democracy – Is a form of government in which people collectively make decisions for themselves, rather than having their political affairs decided by representatives. Without common goals, a community would have a community would have a difficult time maintaining order. (c. aws) Only adult males could vote in ancient Athens. (a. grown-up) The Greek Love of Wisdom. The ancient Greeks considered wisdom to be an important virtue. Socrates and Plato, philosophy was literally the love of Wisdom. Plato's The Republic, in which the leaders of his proposed utopia are to be philosopher kings: rulers who understand the Form of the Good and possess the courage to act accordi ngly. Aristotle, in his Metaphysics, defined wisdom as the understanding of causes, i. e. knowing why things are a certain way, which is deeper than merely knowing that things are a certain way. Philosophy – Refers to an organized system of thought. Socratic Method- Socrates used it as a teaching method he presumed that all knowledge was already present in each person and after careful questioning could draw out. Foundations – What people build things on like government or religion, like their beliefs. Who lived in the polis? The development of the Greek polis whether a military oligarchy in Sparta or democracy in Athens allowed citizens to participate in political issues. This concept of the â€Å"rule by the people,† mainly in Athens, gave the citizens a sense of freedom and harmony. In order to be a citizen in the polis, one had to be an adult whose ancestors were Greek and from that particular polis. Children, foreigners, and slaves could not be citizens. Citizens had many exclusive rights. How did Athens and Sparta differ? The city-states differed in different regions of ancient Greece. Even though the states kept the concept of the polis, the way in which each was governed differed. Two of the most important city-states were Sparta and Athens. Sparta developed as a war-like polis, while Athens developed as a democratic one. Rome and the Rise of Christianity.

Individual in society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Individual in society - Essay Example 2. Why am I completing a Learning Journal as part of my study of social psychology? The learning journal aims at helping me properly understand and reflect on the ideas, issues and concepts learnt from topics in the class lectures in the most efficacious way possible. The journal also aims at enabling me think critically in identifying the ideas, concepts and issues raised in the topics. This will in turn enable me acquire the ability to reflect, respond to similar issues and formulate similar ideas 3. What do I hope to learn from this assignment? The assignment will no doubt help me in my future studies and in practical application of learnt ideas. It will enhance grasping and understanding of concepts from the topics I have learnt more effectively, and enhance reflection and application of the same in real time social psychology in the future. Further, it will equip me with skills in critical thinking, evaluation and quick comprehension. In my future studies, it will help me to ref lect on learnt materials adequately, be able to identify and connect with the learnt ideas and apply the same in solving related issues. perspective. Reflective Learning Journal Topic: Self & Identity 1. Which aspect of the topic has interested me most? Why? In the topic Self and Identity, the aspect that has interested me the most is Spotlight effect and the illusion of transparency. This aspect is quite new to me and I never realized that such an experience had happened my life before without my knowledge. The aspect provides me with a new perspective on self-thinking, and its importance and significance in every day life. 2. What are the main ideas, concepts and evidence related to this aspect? The main ideas related to this aspect are the perceptions on self-focus, illusion of transparency cover and the spotlight effect. The concepts describe the language the body gives in certain feelings and the linking of the body language to certain feelings when in fact it is not the case. The body language can give a wrong impression and people can overestimate what one is thinking when it is completely the opposite. This is the spotlight effect discussed in the journal. A person can feel that they are under surveillance of other people when they are not. A person can be too conscious during public speaking and end up being different from the person they usually are in a normal or a social environment. The audience might really be interested in listening to the speaker but because the speaker is too self-conscious might end up underperforming because of thinking that they are being judged by the audience. Illusion of transparency explains how Some feelings are predictable and can be read by others. Feelings such as nervousness, happiness, anxiety, sadness and fear. However, some emotions cannot come out clearly. For example of love can rarely show out to others if the involved party decides to hide their feelings for each other (Myers, 2010) 3. What short quote from the text or reading illustrates an important point related to this aspect? The quote relating to this aspect is by Kenneth Savitsky and Thomas Gilovich who say that people feelings leak out and others normally notice. They forget that their internal stakes can leak out for others to see. For example, signs like trembling and nervousness can easily lead to detection of a liar (Myers 2010, p.60) 4. How is this aspect relevant to my social world? This aspect has enabled me

Rolls Royce Plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Rolls Royce Plc - Essay Example Rolls Royce PLC provides varied categories of products such as civil aerospace products, defence aerospace products, marine products, energy products and nuclear products. It develops and markets commercial aero engines for large and small aircrafts, helicopters and combat jets. It also manufactures transporters, propulsors, reduction gears, gas engines, fuel cells and steam generator services among others. Along with the various products, Rolls Royce PLC also offers variety of support services such as TotalCare, CorporateCare, MissionCare, technical support services and ‘Marine Tailored Solutions’ as well as reactor support services among others to its customers (Rolls-Royce Plc, 2012). Main Competitors Rolls Royce PLC is one of the world’s top manufacturers of high power gas turbine engines which gained its prominence in the global cutthroat market due to its use of extremely advanced technologies. One of the main competitors of Rolls Royce PLC is GE Aviation. O ther than GE Aviation, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Siemens AG, Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, General Electric Power Systems among others are also close competitors of Rolls Royce PLC. ... Group is a comprehensive product and service providing organisation with customers in 135 countries and manufacturing facilities in over 14 countries. In this competitive scenario, the needs and wants of the customers are the primary criteria which are considered by organisation in any field. Rolls-Royce PLC satisfies the needs of the customers by delivering cost-effective products and efficient global support services, and so it is highly preferred among others. The customers from the world's important airlines and jet operators mainly rely on the Rolls Royce among others due to its efficient support as well as understanding towards the requirements of the prospective partners and suppliers. The service strategy of TotalCare and updated technologies are the key factors which differentiates Rolls Royce from other competitors (Rolls-Royce Plc, 2012). Opportunities and Threats The Rolls Royce PLC is one of the leading international makers and suppliers of aircraft engines. It became su ccessful due to its advanced technologies and competent customer services. But both globalisation and competitiveness of the market, act as opportunities as well as threats for Rolls Royce PLC. In order to sustain in this global market, Rolls-Royce PLC should develop new products, new international markets, and innovative technologies and also try to diversify to different product lines among others so as to enhance its business growth, prosperity and customer loyalty. This may act as the opportunities in the next three years which can improve Rolls Royce PLC’s corporate image and profitability among competitors. Moreover, the threats which might hinder the growth of the organisation may be the entrance of potential competitors, economic recession, new developing rules and regulations

Education Pendulum Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Education Pendulum - Assignment Example From the report it is clear that education has been going back and forth over years, and this is because we have been trying to improve the education style. The pendulum swing occurs due to the reason that, whenever we are trying to improve education, hence we set some procedures but unfortunately we left the objectives pending. The suspension of the predetermined goals are like rolling the ball up the hill and later living it rolling back before we get the ball at the apex of the hill. This trend of leaving the ball to roll back to the bottom of the hill has been going on in the education system. Hence, the education system has been swing just like the pendulum ball. As the study highlights around 40 years ago, most parts of the world preferred the use of television as a learning tool. Most education movies were introduced; hence everyone was swing from teacher system to television learning system. Television was viewed as means of taking students globally to watch the realistic shows such as; kissing Queen Isabella goodbye. Moreover, the television was more efficient compared to the certified teacher because it was simple to replay what the students had not understood. The television was not emotional as compared to teacher hence it was friendly and fair to students. Educational pendulum exists due to the vicious cycles in the society. The society undergoes long-term cycles. Vicious cycles in the society undergo changes which eventually go back to the initial starting point. Same as the education system cycles exist bringing about the education pendulum.

The education of Sparta---Military life Research Paper

The education of Sparta---Military life - Research Paper Example One of many war experiences was the Dorian invasion which had played a great role in the development of the city state of Sparta. The Spartan political system underwent a lot of sociopolitical and military transformations. Around the 7th century BCE it descended from monarchic system to a basic republic political system. From 1050 BCE to 750 BCE, the political culture of Sparta as well as of other Greek city states can be characterized by a type of monarchy which later transformed into aristocratic oligarchy. The military training of a Spartan would start during his or her childhood. But more interestingly, the selection process of a Spartan soldier used to begin before they were born. In this regard they would take the help of Eugenics. During the 7th century BCE, the Spartan city state faced a sociopolitical unrest which was partly the result of the 7th century Lelantine War, a strife among the Greek city states. During this period, the Spartans turned their attention to build up themselves and to conquer others. The foundation of Sparta was its military. As a military state, Sparta could, to a large extent, maintain peace and harmony among their citizens and enabled the Greek to build an army to mitigate the threats from their neighbors. The first and foremost reason why the Spartans depended on their military power was that they were obsessively war-loving people. They loved war so much, that they turned the country into a military camp. Sparta was a prominent city-state, the one that a dominant military country in ancient Greece. It also was one of the strongest polis among the best of battle. The military in this country covered most of the citizens’ life. The City State of Sparta had the most outstanding military forces in the history of ancient civilization. The Spartan soldiers are popular for their valor, dexterity and fighting skill. The Greek culture was very rich. It was superior to most

Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 58

Journal - Essay Example 91). In Journal 3, I talked about something I learned from tutorial 25. Tutorial mainly introduces prepositions and prepositional phrases to us. I have made mistakes while practicing the preposition usage. I always perceived it to be difficult. Preposition usage includes the recognition of prepositions and usage within sentences in individual writing. I learned from the book that there are three different uses of prepositional phrases. The first is the single word preposition. At, as, and about depict some of the examples (Ferris 2014, p. 94). The use is to connect words. The second kind is two-word preposition inclusive of, in addition, on average, of course, and so on. These phrases are the preposition with a noun, and they are used to make two sentences more consistent. The third kind is a three-word preposition. It means that the phrases comprise three words like in order to, as a result, by the way among others. In journal 4, I talked about something I learned from tutorial 13. I learned many concepts relating language use, academic writing, formality, and poverty issues. Among the most confused words included poverty and informal language usage. During the informal language lesson, I learned that it is not appropriate to term language usage as informal because it is applicable to many contexts. Regarding the levels of formality quotes should be reproduced exactly as they are while taking care on the first and second person pronouns in the academic writing work. In addition, it is proper to avoid the first person references to create a great impression on the readers. Moreover, when using emails, memos, and business letters, the recipients’ title needs consideration. In the context of professional and academic writing, specific writing styles prefer particular and consistent ways of writing references. Individuals, who are unable to reference correctly, should regularly refer to the conventions provided for in reference guiding manuals (Ferris 2014,

How will climate change affect National Grid(UK) and how they do PowerPoint Presentation

How will climate change affect National Grid(UK) and how they do business - PowerPoint Presentation Example On the other hand, it is suggested by Koomey et al. (1997, 1) that ‘the common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more competitive economy are inherently contradictory’. Many efforts have been made by the states globally in order to create a mutually – accepted plan for the reduction of greenhouse emissions; however this plan has faced significant oppositions mostly because it is against of the interests of specific parts of the population within each country globally; gas emissions and pollution in general seem to serve the interests of a specific group of people who ignore the effect of increased industrial activity on a continuous basis and promote personal interests even if they are related with severe damages on climate worldwide. Current paper focuses on the activities of National Grid, ‘an international electricity and gas company and one of the larg est investor-owned energy companies in the world’ (corporate website) in terms of their relationship with the climate changes globally. More specifically, the effects of climate changes in the international context are being identified and evaluated trying to locate the relationship between the firm’s activities and the climate change as they can be observed in the firm’s daily operations specifically in Britain. Climate has changed dramatically in all regions around the world. One of the main reasons for this change has been considered to be the extremely high percentage of carbon dioxide released by industries, households and a wide range of other sources (e.g. automobiles, fires and so on). Regarding this issue, it has been found by Marland et al. (2007) that ‘since 1751 roughly 315 billion tons of carbon have been released to the atmosphere from

Response To Peter Pans Text Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response To Peter Pans Text - Essay Example The heterosexual desire is seen in the interaction of the two as they are overly sexualized. The focused light is although contrasted later in the scene due to lack of pigmentation in Peter's face when he is losing the fight in the last battle with Hook. The play displays the use of lighting to indicate different character’s feelings. In the romantic scene with Wendy, sexual stimulation and excitement are shown by the use of color red, while blue lighting reflects unhappiness and the lack of sexual stimulation. The play is revealing shades and colors since it is lit to resemble daylight before the entrance of Peter. When the two male protagonists start to fight the set is changed into a dark shade of red. The lighting also changes in the play highlighting Hook’s face to be red indicating his excitement. This happens when he’d realized he was beating Peter in the emotional game through verbally announcing his anxieties and fears, while Peter’s face was in a dull shade of blue showing his sadness. However, this changes when he battled Peter to the ground as the color changed to blue showing compassion. The play implicates a deeper connectional meaning to their fight, emotional attachments to each other, instead of the original version of good and evil. It shows that they are incomplete and have secret desires for companionship. The play shows the attempt by Disney in fighting or trying to eliminate the homosocial aspects present in Barrie's work out of the culture media.

Review Of Documentary Lifers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Review Of Documentary Lifers - Essay Example   To shed some light on this issue, Channel 4 created a series of documentaries a few years ago that highlights and follows some of the prisoners serving what amounts to a life sentence at Gartree prison. The film itself is designed to give viewers a glimpse of the harsh reality of life behind bars, without any possibility of seeing freedom again on the other side. It provides a stark contrast between a society that believes in second chances, with the reality that such opportunities are not afforded to everyone, particularly those who have violated certain societal norms and mores that go against the grain of civilized society (Channel 40d 2012).   Through the depiction of various real life inmates, this documentary guides viewers towards a better understanding of the concept of having certain prisoners serve a life sentence, no matter what efforts they may make to better themselves behind bars. In the end, the documentary is masterful of not making a social judgment about the e fficacy of the UK’s policy of life imprisonment; rather, it leaves the choice up to the individual viewer as to rather or not the concept is beneficial or harmful to society as a whole.  This documentary, by and large, is effective because the prisoner themselves are afforded the opportunity to tell their stories. Some are truly regretful for their actions, while others express a feeling that their lives truly are over, resulting in a no fear attitude that pervades their existence in prison.

Public health research paper outline Essay Example for Free

Public health research paper outline Essay I. Evidence of spanking as corporal punishment. a.Population: Children at school age (Forehand McMahon, 1981). The book successfully outlines the theoretical foundations of middle childhood and adolescence, in particular, the developmental tasks children are supposed to accomplish at certain age stage. The scholar also describes the distinctive features of boys’ and girls’ behavior and both implicitly and implicitly argues that mistakes and rule-breaking are critical in the process of obtaining autonomy in the middle childhood and early adolescence. b.Prevalence: About 55% adults reported they were physically punished in the childhood and teen years (Hyman, 1995). The article provides a detailed description of incidence and prevalence of spanking: for instance, it is stated that boys are punished more frequently than girls, parents with higher education and higher social class are less likely to spank; female parents use this disciplinary method more often than male. Moreover, the paper addresses the most common reasons minors are slapped for and the most widespread threats, associated with spanking (parental aggression, transition from punishment to revenge) . c. Significance: This is a debate that has been going on for decades. Some people believe it helps, others think it hinders a child’s social and behavioral development (Strauss and Donnelly, 2002). The writing is instrumental in its clear description of both parties of the spanking confrontation; importantly, the emphasis is placed upon the disputes between health care specialists and psychologists. The book also draws a distinction between spanking and physical abuse. II. Behavioral Dimensions. a. The impact of spanking on school behavior: Corporal punishment of children actually interferes with the process of learning and with their optimal development as socially responsible adults (Larzelere, 2005). The author provides a detailed review of existing studies, dedicated to the relationship between spanking and challenges in cognitive and emotional development. The article also illustrates the closed circle of physical punishment, which causes the fear of making a mistake and depresses concentration, critical thinking and initiative in behavior. b. Spanking and aggressive or violent behavior: Researchers have also found that children who are spanked show higher rates of aggression and delinquency in childhood than those who were not spanked (Polaha, Larzelere, Shapiro Pettit, 2004). The article points out the distinctive features and effects of spanking depending on ethnic group and shows that child maltreatment, or excessive use of physical measures, is an artificial means of disciplining minors, which does not allow them to develop self-discipline. In fact, when a child is battered at early age, they develop the convictions in the permissibility of misbehavior if it is not noticed by adults. Similarly, at older age, the person begins to believe that punishment will not follow a crime if the transgression is not revealed. III. Psycho-Social Dimensions. a. Impact of physical punishment on family atmosphere: When trust between children and their closest caretakers is damaged, the minor’s ability to form trusting relationships with others is also damaged, and the effect may be lifelong (Benjet Kazdin, 2003). The article addresses the numerous long-term intrafamilial difficulties, resulting from spanking adolescents, including the disappearance of respect and trust. b. Corporal punishment and antisocial behavior. Children show antisocial behaviors when corporal punishment is enforced: the probability of school dropout and minor crime increases.   (Grogan-Kaylor, 2005). The   research involved almost 2000 participants and was aimed at investigating the ways spanking impairs social life of male and female adolescents, their motivation to participate in community activities and social position in general. V. Prevention of Spanking. a. Strategies for strengthening mutual understanding between caregiver and minor: it is highly important that caregiver be aware of the causes of the child’s undesirable actions and the balancing options available (Strauss and Donnelly, 2002). The book also analyzes the relationship between parenting styles, family conflicts, socioeconomic background, parental values and child behavior, habits and conviction. b. Discipline strategies, involving no use of physical power. There are compliance-gaining strategies that work with children most of the time: harmless and non-stopping dialogue, interest in teenager’s life and emotional support by necessity (Larzelere Kuhn, 2005). The paper provides a very specific comparison of spanking and its â€Å"non-violence† alternatives and suggests that frequent spanking is much less helpful in the process of upbringing, except for the finding that it diminishes alcohol and substance abuse. VI. Legal Frameworks and Policy Interventions. a. Legal and policy aspects of spanking: there are no state laws against spanking, although 27 states have policies against the practice and this year Pennsylvania is debating becoming the 28th. Spanking in schools is currently allowed in 23 states although in many districts parents who object can withhold permission for school personnel to spank their kids (Durrant, 2004). The article draws parallels between children rights, declared in national and global legislation, and the state legal and policy foundations, regulating the treatment of minors. b. Health care and policy efforts: traditionally, moderate spanking is non-injurious, so health care associations and factions are neutrally disposed to such disciplinary measure, as opposed to civil society groups and religious organizations which seek to cultivate new upbringing patterns and incorporate them into public policies (Larzelere, 2005). The book contains useful information about the undertakings of child protection groups and agencies of the similar profile as well as community efforts, directed to parenting skills training and parent education in general.

Holistic View Of The Bilingual Person English Language Essay

Holistic View Of The Bilingual Person English Language Essay The term bilingual in the psycholinguistic literature does not only apply to people who speak two languages equally well because they were exposed constantly to two different languages maybe due to their parents two different native languages. However Bilingualism refers to the regular use of two (or more) languages, and bilinguals are those people who need and use two (or more) languages in their everyday lives. (Grosjean, 1992, pp. 51). This represents a holistic view of the bilingual person as a competent and complete communicator, on the other hand though a bilingual person is surely not the result of the sum of two monolinguals. As early as 1968, Macnamara, Krauthammer and Bolgar wrote: Within certain limits à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, all bilinguals manage to keep their languages distinct and can switch from one to the other. It follows that to some extent bilinguals experience their languages as psychologically distinct systems, and that they have some device to control which one is used at any particular time. However, fluent bilinguals are capable of switching between their two languages, when for example a third person who can speak only one of the two languages is pulled in a conversation or when the topic of the discussion strongly asks for the use of both languages at the same time. To clarify this point, consider this situation described by Judith Kroll You are sitting at a cafà © or at the airport when you overhear a conversation in English that suddenly switches to another language and then back to English. If you are a monolingual speaker of English, you may notice the mixture of languages without realizing that you have listened to an impressive cognitive accomplishment by the speaker. This exceptional achievement is instead a rather common feature of bilinguals language use in which words of two languages mix together in a coherent and meaningful conversation .. In this sense, a bilingual changes the linguistic form, without alterating the substantial meaning byusing a word which may address the sense of a discourse in a better or stronger way like choosing between synonyms with the same language (Sridhar Sridhar, 1980). Yet when the same bilinguals speak to a monolingual they rarely use or switch to an alternative language in order to prevent the monoli ngual speaker from not understanding. These different circumstances and a variety of other situation where this capability arises leads to question of how the information to be processed or expressed is bound to the activation or articulation of a corresponding word or phrase in the appropriate language. On one hand, for a person repeatedly coping with language switches within the conversation, these apparently strange words come unexpectedly and may perhaps be more difficult to process than their within-language counterparts. On the other hand for a bilingual who has to choose in which language to speak, the process of finding the right word in the right context, which French and Jacquet (2004) refer to as lexical access may result extremely complex , as in addition to the activation of words in one language other than the target, other parole (words) in the other language might be active as well.,. Thus, the simultaneous activation of the two lexico-semantic represenations of a bilingual might address different answers paralleled with the specific processing modality, word recognition or production, driven by the context. In word recognition, language membership is passively conveyed to a person by the orthographical or phonological characteristics of the word (). However, in word production, the speaker actively and intentionally decides which language to use. Therefore, the speaker can exert some control on lexical forms and choose the target which best fits the communicative context among a set of activated representations. We do not claim that the mechanisms and neural dynamics recruited for lexical access are necessarily different in recognition and production, but rather that the processes involved in each may be at least partially different. The aim of this project will be first to trace the effects of a language switch on models of both language production and language comprehension and second to identify the neural correlates of language switching and the impact a switch may have on the cognitive processes which rule lexical access in order to produce or recognize a word. Bilingualism and language comprehension Language comprehension has been investigated in bilingual populations mainly through tasks in which bilinguals are substantially asked to respond to written words in one or both of their languages. In such visual word identification tasks, the language switch is driven by the upcoming stimuli in input, while the output is executed by button press driven by a binary decision. A large number of studies have addressed bilinguals performance in comprehension tasks through both within-language and cross-language tasks such as lexical decision (e.g., Dijkstra, Van Jaarsveld Ten Brinke, 1998; Dijkstra, Grainger, Van Heuven, 1999; von Studnitz Green, 2002), language decision, and categorisation tasks (e.g., Dufour Kroll, 1995; Grainger Frenck-Mestre, 1998). Initial studies revealed, for example, that when bilinguals were asked to read language-mixed passages, their performance suffered compared to reading single-language passages (Macnamara Kushnir, 1971). In lexical decision, responses to words where a switch in language occurs were slower than those to a trial nested in a sequence of words from same language s (Thomas Allport, 1995; Von Studnitz Green, 1997). Ability to recognize words in one language seems to be influenced by the language memebership of the word immediately preceding (the basic language priming effect) (Grainger Beauvillain, 1988; Grainger ORegan, 1992) even in lists of unrelated words. Fluent bilinguals seem to comfortably manage whichever language they are requested to use, however in all of the contexts mentioned just above a language switch during comprehension hurts their performance. This evidence suggests that even when bilinguals read (e.g., Dijkstra, 2005) or hear (e.g., Marian Spivey, 2003) one langua ge alone, both languages are still active. Thus, a crucial point here is to establish if and to what extent the other language is still there when bilinguals use one language alone. One way of testing this hypotheisis is to isolate ambiguous features of the bilinguals two languages , meaning to use words that partially overlap or are totally shared in both languages. When two languages share the same alphabet, we may find words called cognates that look or sound the same and mean the same thing as well. For example, In French and Italian, the words balla and balle are almost spelled identically and have the same meaning and. If bilinguals are really capable of shutting down one language and dress as monolinguals, then performance on these special words (cognates) should not differ from that on distinctive and unambiguous words. If the other language results not to be in standby but always on, then bilinguals should perform differently from monolinguals which in a lexical decision ta sk will need to match the target with only one possible candidate instead of two A cognate benefit on performance has been demonstrated across a variety of tasks (De Groot and Poot, 1997; Van Hell De Groot, 1998a; Van Hell and Dijkstra, 2002;), providing substantial evidence that cognates are represented or processed differently from non-cognate translation equivalent words in the second language. Cognates and non-cognates also show different priming effects: in one of the earliest explorations of the effects of cognates, De Groot and Nas (1991) found cross-language repetition priming for both cognates and non-cognates, but associative priming only for cognates. Given such evidence they reached three conclusions: (1) the representations of both cognate and non-cognate translations at the lexical level of representation are connected; (2) cognate translations share a representation at the conceptual level while (3) non-cognate translation equivalents are represented in separate conc ept nodes. De Groot and colleagues model of cognate representation has continued to develop, but it remains firmly based on the principle that cognates representations in the two languages are shared, or overlapping, more than those of non-cognates. In terms of distributed representations, Van Hell and De Groot (1998) describe the notion of overlap as the patterns of activation for a cognate word and its translation being similar to one another, whereas the patterns of activation for a non-cognate word and its translation may have very little in common. The more features are shared between words, the smaller the lexical distance between their corresponding patterns of activation. In addition, the cognate effect was found not to be restricted only to conditions where stimuli are presented in written form. Costa, Caramazza, and Sebastià ¡n-Gallà ©s (2000), for example, found that bilinguals named pictures with cognate names more quickly than pictures with non-cognate names, while monolinguals showed no difference on the same set of pictures. This confirms that the cognate benefit is not solely due to orthographic overlap in the presented stimuli. Many studies have took advantage of these special properties of cognate words in order to determine how this linguistic ambiguity impacts on bilinguals ability to understand these words in only one of their two languages. Evidence stemming from all these studies strongly supports the idea that the language not in use may be in a sort of sleeping mode and anyway exerts an influence on the bilinguals lexico-semantic system even when a task tunes it to the other language. When cross-language form and meaning converge, bilingual performance is typically facilitated; when cross-language form and meaning conflict, bilingual performance is often hindered, in that it is slower and more likely to be error prone (Dijkstra, 2005). These cross-language effects will likely occur especially in the case of a second less dominant language given that most of time both languages will never be equally strong. Furthermore in conditions where a change in language occurs, the cross-linguistic influence of one language on the other will directly affect the processing of words in either one of the two languages. However it is a point of some controversy in the literature whether the costs associated with switching between languages might be somehow modulated by language specific or ambiguous cues. The Bilingual Interactive Activation model (BIA) and language switching Dijkstra and van Heuven (1998) have proposed a model for word recognition in bilinguals (BIA, the Bilingual Interactive Activation model) in which they try to account for the interaction between active word candidates in both languages. Novel to the BIA model is the use of language nodes. When the BIA model encounters a string of letters, the specific visual features of each at a particular letter position excite letters in the system with corresponding features while different letters are inhibited . Activation in turn from letters is driven to words in both languages where each letter figures in the determined position, while all other words are inhibited. At the word level, language membership will not affect inhibition as all words inhibit each other. Activation thriving from word nodes in the same language is carried on to the corresponding language nodes which store activation from words with a specific language tag, and in turn spread, through a feedback mechanism, inhibition to all word nodes in the other language. Furthermore, these language nodes can be pre-activated reflecting a particular task and this device allows the asymmetric inhibition of words in the two languages; word forms in L1, for instance, can be more inhibited than word forms in L2. The effects of language switching can be explained in this framework through a mechanism which allows lexical activation to flow from one trial over to the next. The BIA hypothesizes that activation of a specific language node paralleled with the presentation of a word in that particular language will not completely decay and fall beneath threshold, therefore when the next item comes up in the other language the corresponding word unit will be partially inhibited. According to this model any cost relative to switching will fall close to zero if the input carries orthographic features unique to a language. Only one or a few word units in that particular language will be active and any advantage or disadvant age held by similar cross-linguistic representations (i.e. as in the case of cognates) of the previous trial will fade out. This model shows that language switching may be a function of the task situation, the nature of stimulus material, as well as the expertise of the bilingual. Figure 1. The Bilingual Interactive Activation (BIA) model for bilingual word recognition. Arrowheads indicate excitatory connections; black filled circles indicate inhibitory connections. (Dijkstra van Heuven, 1998) 4.4 The effects of context information and the BIA+ Model Language is a single word, however in its everyday use it implies the use of a set of multiple words to express meaning. It is possible therefore that evidence for cross-language activity stems from the decontextualized nature of word recognition tasks commonly employed to investigate the bilinguals two languages. In the context of a conversation or while we read a passage in one language rather than the other cues which shift the balance of activity in favour of the intended language should be conveyed to a mechanism which could virtually switch off the other language. This indeed does not seem to be the case as recent evidence from a number of studies suggest that contextual cues per se are not able to turn completely down the activity of the language not in use. On one hand we would have intuitively predicted that the frame provided by a stringent linguistic context should reduce the number of viable language interpretations. On the other hand, these findings justify the ease of language switching and the relatively low cost it entails in terms of processing resources (e.g., Moreno, Federmeier, Kutas, 2002). However, a point of some controversy remains and namely the relationship between the word identification system and the linguistic context (as a sentence) or the non-linguistic context information determined in an experimental framework by the task demands (i.e. the participants expectations determined by the instructions). One option is that after the initial stages of lexical processing, information of both types (linguistic and context) may exert an influence on the activation level of forms in the target and non-target language. For instance, context information could inhibit lexical candidates or lemmas in the irrelevant language (BIA model by Dijkstra et al., 1998; IC model by Green, 1986, 1998) or just modulate of the activation level of lexical candidates in each language (Grosjean, 1997). A second option is that non-linguistic context information does not directly influence the activity in the identification system itself, but affects decision criteria only.. The BIA+ model postulates the existence of two distinct systems: a word identification system and a task/decision system. Linguistic information conveyed by a sequence of words in in a sentence context may modulate the word identification system, while non-linguistic context information (e.g., participants expectations and strategies) affects parameter settings in the task/decision system.. However, the model clearly states that the task/decision system and sources of non-linguistic information do not affect the lexical activation levels within the word identification system itself. Therefore while performing in a task (such as lexical decision) an early preconscious, automatic level of processing thriving from activity within the word identification system may be followed by an attention-sensitive level in which lexical forms are selected through a task/decision system with reference to different contextual factors and bound to a specific response relevant to the task at hand (cf. Altenberg and C airns, 1983, p. 187; Dupoux and Mehler, 1992; Balota, Paul and Spieler, 1999). The task schema, which is set up during the practice set or retrieved from memory, designates the algorithm which selects the cognitive processing steps necessary to perform the specific task (Green, 1986, 1998; Norman and Shallice, 1986). The decision mechanism is incorporated in the task schema and monitors continuously the activation level of candidates in the identification system by weighting the different levels of activation of targets with respect to each other within the identification system in order to arrive at an output in terms of response. The decision relies upon a lexical selection mechanism, which triggers depending on the breaking of an activation threshold for a lexical candidate. In other words, the identification and task/decision systems, though interconnected, may be partially independent. The two systems use their own criteria for action triggering (i.e., lexical selection and res ponse selection/execution). The identification system is assumed to recognize a word and is able to select a single lexical candidate with a good degree of certainty) when the system reaches a fair stability. The task/decision system triggers a response when its own criteria are met, some of which ruled by lexical activation, while others driven by a tendency towards optimization in terms of how activated and selected representations in the identification system are linked to possible responses. For instance, in lexical decision the input letter string conveys activity to orthographic, semantic and phonological codes, all of which could allow a discrimination of word and non-word input. However, when participants are asked to make a language decision in the sense to press one button if a presented item belongs to one language (e.g., English) and another button if it belongs to another language (e.g., Dutch) only those codes which facilitate the retrieval of language membership infor mation (language tags) are able to address a correct response. Thus, different schemas underlie different tasks, although one task may obey to different schemas. The schema might capture and use information from different sources in parallel, but presently available evidence suggests that orthographic representations play a major role (Pexman and Lupker, 2001). A number of recent experiments have addressed the predictions stemming from the BIA+ model by asking whether the parallel activity of the two languages can be reduced or eliminated when language ambiguous words that produce cross-language effects out of context, are placed in sentence context (e.g., Elston-Gà ¼ttler, Gunter, Kotz, 2005; Schwartz Kroll, 2006;Van Hell,1998). Schwartz, Kroll, and Diaz (2007) showed that when bilinguals are asked to name a cognate like radio in isolation, they are faster relative to controls if there is both orthographical and phonological overlap across the two languages. However, when they read highly constrained sentences the processing advantage for cognates disappeared while in sentences with a lower closure probability, an advantage for cognates remained, suggesting that knowing the language in which you are reading does not switch off the unintended language. This last assumption leads to the question of whether the decision criteria in a language switching task is affected when cognates are involved considering that the activation threshold for lexical candidates will be broken not as quickly. According to the BIA+ model, the similarity of the input word to the internal lexical representations establishes their activation level. Therefore the larger the overlap between the input string and a representation in the mental lexicon, the more the internal representation is activated. In the case of two languages with alphabetical writing systems, the number of activated orthographic candidates is determined by factors such as the neighbourhood density and frequency of the target word and its within- and between-language neighbours and not by the words language membership. However, If the two input codes specific to each language are different (e.g., letter sets), the activated set of neighbours may become much smaller. Figure 2. The BIA+ model for bilingual word recognition. Arrows indicate activation flows between representational pools. Inhibitory connections within pools are omitted. Language nodes could instead be attached to lemma representations between word form and meaning representations. Non-linguistic context only affects the task schema level. (Dijkstra Van Heuven The architecture of the bilingual word recognition sysytem, Bilingualism:Language and Cognition, 5, 2002 )

Problems Faced by Starbucks in India

Problems Faced by Starbucks in India Jump to: SWOT Analyis of Starbucks  | PEST Analysis of Starbucks Starbucks Coffee Company has gone through some major makeovers throughout its existence. Starbucks was initially a small entrepreneurial business partnership, which sold only roasted coffee beans, tea, and spices. Later on, Starbucks took on a director by the name of Howard Schultz, who had great vision for the company, but whose ideas were rejected. Schultz went on to later purchase the corporation and grow it to what we now know as one of the largest and most loved coffee chains in the country. Having expanded into several other countries, such as Canada, Japan, and China, Starbucks yearned to step foot in the Indian market and leave its footprint there. However, this invasion would not be as easy as they had hoped. Case 7: Starbucks Coffee Company Founded in 1971 by Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, and Zez Siegel, Starbucks was simply a place for consumers to purchase high quality, dark roasted, whole coffee beans. As is the coffee addiction trend, this was a popular investment for the partners. The business did very well and had expanded to five retail outlets within ten years. In 1982, Howard Schultz joined the company as the director of Retail Operations and Marketing. While on a business trip in Milan, Italy, he had an epiphany. Fresh brewed coffee was not limited to households, as Milan alone had 1,500 coffee bars. He wished to expand Starbucks to sell freshly brewed coffee as well, and to bring the coffee bar experience of Italy home to the states and to Starbucks clientele. Schultz suggestions were shot down, pushing him to leave the company and give life to his visions on his own. Having worked out many initially neglected concepts, his coffee bar, Il Giornale, became a huge success, reaching around $500,000 annual sales by mid 1987 and having attained three locations, one of which was opened in Canada. Current Situation In 2006, Schultz announced Starbucks intent to expand into the countries of Russia and India. Indias conditions for market entry were pretty favorable, and it seemed like a great time to make their move. The population is high and the majority of the population is youthful and is expected to remain youthful for years to come. It has become a place for many companies to outsource production and services, and is simply all around a great opportunity. However, there are also constraining factors for economic growth. Yet when the government announced permission, per their approval and certain restrictions, for Foreign Direct Investment in retail trade of single brand products, several chains announced their intentions to take advantage of this opportunity. Current Performance Starbucks coffee houses serviced, entertained, and provided a cultural atmosphere to over 40 million customers in its 7,600 retail locations in the United States alone. Starbucks entered markets regions at daily rates through a strategic plan that phenomenally gained success in China, Asia, and Japan becoming the leader in specialty coffee around the world. By the end of 2006 and with careful environmentally scanning through strategic measures based on the objectives, mission, and having a vision for the Starbucks brand, Starbucks entered joint ventures, partnerships, and market segments which increased its sales to over 300% reaching $103 million in 2 years; that is, from 1990 to 1992. Starbucks offers an assortment and well desired variety of premium coffee fitted to the cultures of its retail outlet locations. Despite the intense competition Starbucks next destination was to reach into the market segments of India and Russia; however, many economic, technological, political-legal, and socio-cultural factors existed. Starbucks faced constraints of encompassing the productions of its high quality premium coffee beans at the risk of distributions and control of workers well-being, and its established trade relationships. Corporate Governance . Having seen the accuracy of his visions in his own coffee bars, Schultz decided to purchase the assets, including the company name, of Starbucks when they became available for sale in 1987. He refaced his Il Giornale stores to Starbucks stores, and promised his investors growth. Schultz then began his journey to take over the world, several Starbucks locations at a time. In 1992, after seeing drastic growth over the past three years, the corporation went public, raising $29 million from their Initial Public Offering. Schultz then went on to dominate the U.S. market with the companys high quality products and services. After having taken over the market, the company began working on new products as well. Initially, Schultz refused to franchise the company name for fear that he would lose the business model he had worked so hard to build. He wanted to ensure that customers everywhere received the same quality, experience, knowledge, and service during their visit no matter what location they walked in to. Even partnerships were closely examined and evaluated before receiving approval. Corporations had to be reputable and value the Starbucks name and image if they wished to serve the brand. Current Performance. Since the inception of Starbucks after being purchased by Schultz, the corporation has been growing rapidly and successfully in North America. In 1994, the company was formed into Starbucks International, wishing to expand its footprint to other countries. The company had three goals in mind: prevent competition from gaining the lead in other countries, benefit from the high number of coffee drinkers in other populations, and build on the growing demand for Western brands. Starbucks began opening international locations in 1996. Having done their homework, Starbucks saw great opportunity in Japan, as it was a rapidly growing market for coffee, especially specialty coffee, and chose that as their first targeted location. The company continued to grow into other countries and dominate markets well into the early 2000s. Japan is the companys largest revenue source outside of North America, and the chain continues to thrive in all the countries it occupies. Strategic Posture . Starbucks has announced their intention to enter the Indian market numerous times now. In order to enter the market successfully and strongly, and with the intent to remain there for years to come, they need to find a trustworthy, competent partner. The company is still working on finding that partner, in which they can put their trust, to hold true to the Starbucks name and brand. Although the Indian market is a great opportunity, the company holds its values and business model to be more important. Starbucks has made efforts to stay green by using recycled cups, and even revamping the menu to include healthier selections. They have formed Starbucks Entertainment, are planning to publish books, and coming up with new ideas on a regular basis. Schultz is dead serious about taking his company Hollywood and beyond (Horovitz, 2006). Schultz has worked hard to build and grow his brand. Therefore, they will not partner with simply anyone. Discussion Within the industry markets that Starbucks faces is a problem reflected by the absence of empowerment and the responsibility of co-operative structures that go beyond the global supply chains engaged in shared responsibilities within poorer countries. Starbucks faced a dilemma regarding the well-being of its workers where constraints of resources, health concern, and fair trade agreements rested on the consumers buying decision to buy fair trade products. There seems to be big plans in the making for corporate conglomerates with no real social responsibilities and only strategic maneuvering; yet, Starbucks marketing mechanism was not through the media but by word of mouth which was a far reach into the homes and lives of those who consumed not just coffee or tea but Starbucks coffee. Starbucks coffee now left with its very own strategy and vision embraced by a coffee culture is threatened in a market that has to contend with its workers and its coffee producers well-being and earmark ed by threats of market-based sanctions in the form of reputational damage (MacDonald, 2007) if it failed to comply with activist demands regarding health concerns and economic governance. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Starbucks International? What are the opportunities and threats facing Starbucks? SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths #1 specialty coffee retailer 11,000 stores in 36 countries w/ 10,000 employees 40 Million customers weekly Uncompromising quality, customer service and relationships (captured social aspect of coffee) Knowledge ( advice in brewing) Sophisticated Store development (6-mo. opening schedule) Expansion strategy (20 more stores 1st 2 yrs) Took advantage of higher coffee consumption rates in other countries Used joint ventures and licenses to enter foreign marketsWeakness Product pricing Large Company (quick to expand) Weaknesses Too many stores in the same radius Cultural issues (Japan food coffee), no smoking High cost (Rent labor) No In house facilities (Roasting) Less control of stores on US soil Tea drinking countries opposed coffee Opportunities Starbucks to offer the finest coffee in the world to India within the next 18 months. Starbucks had an awesome image, more than offering fine coffee, great music, great people, a comfortable/upbeat meeting place, and sound advice on brewing at home. Made locations in high-traffic (e.g. Malls, busy street corners, and grocery stores) Starbucks strategically gained a foothold in the market it entered and quickly moved on to the next market. Starbucks became the leading player in Boston overnight Starbucks was able to build a plan to open stores daily. Threats Starbucks postponed entry into India in the face of problems in Japan and recently entered China Japan originally a tea drinking country, with a per capita consumption of coffee in 1965 of 300g/day Starbucks was opening stores too close to each other which affected their brand image Starbucks gained intense competition who took advantage by including elaborate food menus, and had separate smoking areas. Japan had high rent and cost of labor China was traditionally a tea drinking company Opportunities (continuation): Much like China, India has traditionally been a tea culture, yet a growing coffee culture is emerging, among the countrys young adults. Starbucks did joint ventures, licensing, and partnerships internationally. Joint Ventures helped to get their name out there with a reputable company already doing business there for years so they have the know-how when it comes to the customers of that region and their demands Threats (continuation): China had inadequate infrastructure, bureaucracy, regulatory and foreign investment controls, the reservation of key products for small scale industries, and high fiscal deficits constrained economic growth in India India was the largest producer and consumer of tea Starbucks faced the challenge of the increasing obesity rate in India. Starbucks was the target of consumer health groups against high-calorie and high fat products which led to obesity, heart disease and cancer What are the strategic factors facing Starbucks? PEST Analysis The strategic factors facing Starbucks is maintaining its identity while pursuing its product reach within the international markets where its premium prices for its products are served in poorer countries. Political and Legal factors:  Starbucks sought after potential joint venture partnerships in India and Russia. To prepare for the interpersonal business relationships, partnerships and future business endeavors, Starbucks sought to acquire a competitive intelligent strategy by gathering key information such as scouting locations and meeting with government officials prior to entering these markets to fully gain the additional market knowledge required for its success. Government actions impacted Starbucks as a challenge with exchange control, trade agreements, trademarks, and other foreign regulations all of which protected the working farmers and their rights. Economic Factors: The Starbucks product and service offerings allowed in Japan were twice that much in the United States and yet Starbucks incurred huge losses due to the surmounting consumption of the Japanese intake of its gourmet and premium priced coffees. In 1997 alone Starbucks opened 10 stores in prime locations; thereafter, Starbucks reined with profits from the 3.17 grams of coffee consumption per day allowing in 2002 Starbucks to open well over 360 stores. The strategy Starbucks initialized in its mission, objectives, and vision to be a success was to be the first to move to get a head start on the competition; however, analysis indicated that Starbucks cultural and high traffic locations were too close to one another and the socio-cultural aspect this affected the Starbucks brand image. Starbucks coffee entered new markets with new leadership that recognized the culture, history, and quality behind premium coffee; however, the no-smoking policy, high rent, and cost of labor in Japan posed great challenges to Starbucks. Starbucks incurred additional losses with the exchange of materials. Starbucks only offered India ground roasted premium coffee beans, Japan did not have a roasting facility; therefore, Starbucks paid additional shipping costs to allow shipment of its coffee from its roasting facility in Kent to Japan. Socioeconomical Factors: The vision imposed by Mr. Schultz, the new owner of Starbucks, no longer wanted coffee to be sold as a produce but instead wanted the Starbucks coffee to reach into the heart and soul of its consumers. The coffee consumption rates in different international markets such as in the Asian markets where coffee market is in the development stage, Starbucks faced the challenge of having to educate the market and future consumers about the quality of coffee, the experience, and the idea of coffee away from health concerns. Pricing decisions in India posed a great challenge to Starbucks due to the increase in disposable income and economic situations that affected their idea about coffee which included: Shifts in demographics and social trends such as the age of the coffee consumer. The obesity rates which have an impact on corporate responsibility programs. Competitive disadvantages over better service than Starbucks Western style. Technological factors: Maintaining the Starbucks coffee culture without impact to its foreign trade relations impacted the commerce in China many were opposed to the Starbucks culture of a Western coffee chain. In China the traditional consumption of tea was dominant over coffee and preference was made to instant coffee as opposed to the Starbucks premium fresh roasted coffee partly because coffee was mainly for sophisticated urban consumers. Does Starbucks possess a distinctive competency? If yes, does it fit the Indian market? We absolutely believe that Starbucks does possess a distinctive competency. They are the leader in high quality, dark roasted, whole Arabica coffee beans. They also offer such a large variety of flavors. Their extensive product line also appeals to the different tastes of their heterogeneous consumer base. Given that the company has expanded to encompass a lounge, creating a homey feeling, and serve food items as well, the atmosphere is very inviting and welcoming, attracting the variant crowd. The environment Starbucks locations create for the public would mesh extremely well in the Indian market. Coffee consumption in India is growing drastically, although too different likings. The current coffee bars in India provide some similar environments to that of Starbucks, and the ones which are different appear to be simple enough to where Starbucks can meet the needs of the Indian consumers, should it choose to adjust slightly. For example, there is a Garden Cafà ©, and a Cyber Cafà ©, as well as a Highway Cafà ©. If Starbucks wishes to stay competitive and can do so without hurting their current image, they can create similar cafà ©s with the same type of peaceful home away from home environment which they currently strive to achieve. However, simply due to the number of coffee shops in India, and the fact that much of the Indian population has no preference for filtered coffee over instant, it may present a difficult situation for Starbucks to remain competitive as far as pricing, quality, and overall reasons why the consumers should select their brand over the existing ones. During a company conference call on May 3, 2006, Howard Schultz wrapped up his portion of the discussion with a statement of motivation and goal declaration. Looking ahead, the ambition and the level of enthusiasm to continue to grow present us with greater opportunity than ever before. With a long growth trajectory and so much opportunity ahead, we will strive to continue to provide the highest quality products and service and protect our brand and reputation as we innovate and grow into the future (Schultz, 2006). What are the keys to success in Starbucks operating in India? For Starbucks to be successful in India they must concentrate on the home countrys food habits and especially the current and upcoming Indian beverage market. In the United States the Starbucks current menu consist of muffins, yogurts, sandwiches, paninis, cookies and cakes. Though these delicious treats are suffice to the general public from area to area here in the states, the diversity of Indias culture make it thus that dishes are distinctive from one region to another. What we do know is that spicy foods and sweet foods remained popular across the board in India as well as wheats, rice and gravy based dishes. What this means for Starbucks is that certain locations will have to make offerings that are very specific to that region as there is no one size fits all for this culture. If Starbucks were to offer dishes at its locations, they would need to have the food cooked and prepared in a way that was native to the residents. Starbucks would also need to take in account if the locations would be primarily in northern or southern India, as South Indians consume most coffee. Another key to Starbucks success is how they introduce themselves into the Indian beverage market. Similar to the food habits of Indian residents, taste and preferences for beverages is determined by your geographic location. Most Northern Indians are tea drinkers and an occasional coffee drinker; I suggest Starbucks should figure out how to convert those casual drinkers to full time coffee drinkers. The reason being is the growth of quick service chains that is continually expanding in India, in an article by The Economic Times they expressed that the quick-service restaurant market is worth $13 billion and grows roughly 25-30 percent a year and that Indias entire food service market is worth $64 billion (Starbucks, dunkin donuts, 2011). Because of this large amount of growth, Starbucks target market should be the young and the trendy. Indias population has 700 million people who are under the age of 30 which accounts for 60 percent of their population (Starbucks, dunkin donuts, 201 1). For example hometown cafes like Cafà © Coffee Day, Italian Barista and Costa are receiving positive responses from the youth and these cafà ©s are gaining popularity among their group (Mohapatra, 2010). With the consistent growth of the coffee industry at 5 to 6 percent a year (Mohapatra, 2010) I see no reason why Starbucks shouldnt be successful in India if our suggestions are followed. What products does Starbucks offer? Starbucks coffee is an expensive high premium coffee grown from Arabica beans, which accounts for approximately 10% of the total worldwide coffee purchases. The coffees are sold under the Starbucks, Seattles Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia brands and include: Hot drinks: Venti, Grande, Tall, and Short and Cold drinks: Iced Venti, Iced Grande, Iced Tall, and Frappucino to name a few. Starbucks Coffees: Regular, Decaffeinated, Starbucks VIA (ready brew French roast), Starbucks Reserve (exotic, rare, and exquisite coffees), Coffee from mild to extra bold. Starbucks international: Starbucks Latin American, Africa Arabia, Asia Pacific, Multi-Regional, Specialty, Organic, Whole Bean, and Ground coffees, syrups, and powered blends. Starbucks Beijing offered coffee beverages, 15 varieties and blends of the finest Arabica coffee beans, fresh baked pastries and desserts. Starbucks Japan included an elaborate food menu. Starbucks offers coffee pods, filter packs, portion packs, and instant coffee products. Starbucks offers coffee gifts, gift boxes, gift packs, brewing equipment, drink-ware including espresso machines, coffee makers, coffee presses, grinders, teakettles, teapots and accessories including gift cards and delivery of its products. Starbucks stores also offered fresh pastries and sandwiches. (Japan) Are circumstances appropriate at this time for Starbucks to successfully enter into the Indian market? I believe that circumstances are appropriate for Starbucks to successfully enter into India. With a newly signed agreement with Tata and a growing young adult generation, Starbucks can have a strong impact on the coffee market in India. Starbucks remain rooted to its core beliefs and objectives if it is going to succeed in India. The agreement with Tata, a gold medal Robusta coffee producer, shows that Starbucks is not abandoning its premium and rich culture. It will continue to produce its tasteful and premium coffee to the India urban community. Indias population is also one of the youngest in the world. According to a study by 2020 the average age of an Indian person would be 29 years old. This young generation will help shift the country from a primary based tea drinking company to more of a coffee based country. This younger generation in India also has a taste for Western culture. Starbucks is a strong Western company that can have a strong impact in India.   Starbucks will face challenges with coffee competitors that have made their imprint on the Indian community. These competitors are Cafà © Coffee Day, Qwikys, and Barista. Starbucks still has competitive western advantage when compared to these other competitors. Their prices are also said to be in line with its competitors, giving Starbucks a chance to succeed.  To enter the Indian market successfully they must understand that the Indian people are focused on leading a healthy lifestyle. Starbucks high calorie, fat products will pose a challenge of successfully entering the market. With good management and a strong strategic plan, Starbucks can successfully conquer these challenges in India. The Indian market is growing and Starbucks has the culture and product to succeed. What are the 3 reasons that Starbucks International pursues international expansion? Starbucks International pursues international expansion with the sole desire to recreate the Italian coffee culture with these important variables in mind. To take on its competition early on from gaining a head start in international markets. To build upon its growing desire for the Western brands To benefit from the higher coffee consumption rates in different countries. Monitored Trends in the International Society and International Natural Environments Political-Legal: Environmental protection laws, foreign trade regulations, stability of government, attitudes towards foreign companies, tax laws, and anti-trust regulations impacts the governance and the strategies preempted by Starbucks. Economic: GDP, Inflation rates, Wage/Price controls, Disposable and discretionary income of international markets reflects consumer demands and sales. Sociocultural: Lifestyle changes, rate of family formation, growth rate of population, age distribution of population, health care, living wage, and unionization. Technological: Total industry spending for RD, focus of technology efforts, patent protection, new products, and environmental awareness standards that would allow for better management of crops, more efficient farming, reduction in cost, increase yields, and decrease environmental impact. 8b. Are each of these criteria met in the Indian Market? Yes, these 3 criteria are met in the Indian market. Since there are only three big name coffee spots in India, Starbucks is acting early before other coffee companies in North America or Europe mimic their idea of entering the Indian market. Many retail giants are entering India at this time, it is important that Starbucks enters to get a head start on the competition. By entering now Starbucks may obtain certain locations that are likely to be profitable before competitors or other retail giants acquire the space.   Since Western brands are popular among the younger generation in India, Starbucks has met this criterion in the Indian market. With one of the youngest populations in the world, the Indian market will see an increased demand for Western products by this generation. Starbucks comfortable atmosphere and it ambiance of an extended family will make coffee more beloved in the Indian market if they choose to enter. Coffee consumption has also seen a steady rise recently . In 2005 coffee consumption in India jumped to 85,000 tons. Starbucks is hopeful that this consumption will steadily increase over the years. If they enter the market now they have a strong chance of succeeding. With the increased consumption of coffee in this primarily tea-based country, the Indian market has met Starbucks International criteria of benefiting from a growing coffee consumption rate.

The Effect of Social Organization on Everyday Life and Health Essay

The Effect of Social Organization on Everyday Life and Health Most people do not think about their health or issues revolving around their health until they are actually ill or people think that their health is only affected by biological factors. However, our health should be a focus in our lives because our daily life has an affect on our health. Illness does not only have biological causes but is also influenced by social factors such as the socially imposed roles of gender and socioeconomic differences. Before the affect of gender on health can be discussed, the difference between gender and sex must first defined. Sex refers to actual physiological and hormonal differences between men and women; gender refers to the differences that are imposed by society. Statistics have shown that women have higher rates of morbidity but men have shorter life spans. This means that although women live longer than men, those years are not healthy years but rather are filled with illness. This cannot be completely explained by biological causes but the affect of social factors must be taken into account. There are two types of gender difference disease: completely biological and biological amplified by social. Examples of completely biological diseases would include ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, breast cancer, and cervical cancer for women and prostrate cancer and testicular cancer for men. These diseases can only be had by members of a certain sex due to specific biological factors such as only women having ovaries therefore are able to have ovarian cancer whereas men have no ovaries and cannot get ovarian cancer. The other class of gender difference diseases is disease with biological causes but amplified by social factors. Examples... ..., those in a lower socioeconomic status have higher incidences of diseases aggravated by stress such as cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. This added stress also leads to negative health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse all of which have adverse affects on health. These various stressors of everyday life caused by gender differences and differences in socioeconomic status can have a more profound affect than they seem. Bibliography: Rieker, Patricia P. and Chloe E. Bird. "Sociological Explanations of Gender Differences In Mental and Physical Health." Handbook of Medical Sociology. Ed. Chloe E. Bird, et al. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice, 2000. 98-113. Weiss, Gregory L. and Lynne E. Lonnquist. The Sociology of Health, Healing, and Illness. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice, 2000.